Movie review of ford vs ferrari

What would you do if someone hurled a wrench at you? That’s right: you’d duck; and that’s exactly what Matt Damon — essaying the role of racer-turned-car designer and entrepreneur, Carroll Shelby — does, and the wrench pings into the windscreen of the race car behind him, shattering a part of it. The one who sends that wrench flying Shelby’s way is the man who is to race the very car he just damaged.

The story of Ken Miles — perhaps one of the most heartbreaking in the world of motorsport — is at the heart of Ford v Ferrari . Portrayed by the unbelievably versatile Christian Bale, Miles is a British World War II veteran-turned-mouthy mechanic, who’s also an incredible racer. But with his blunt ways, Miles can rub pretty much anyone the wrong way, and that limits his opportunities; a fact known to Shelby, who himself won the 24 Hours of Le Mans but had to quit racing because of a heart-related issue.

The movie touches upon how the rivalry between Ford and Ferrari came to be. Jon Bernthal plays the role of the famous Lee Iacocca, who believes the only way Ford can be sexy is if it dives headfirst into the world of racing — and no, turning left for four hours (*cough* NASCAR *cough*) doesn’t count. The simplest way to do it, he says, is to buy a nearly-bankrupt Ferrari — and he pitches the idea to Henry Ford II (played convincingly by Tracy Letts). They come close to sealing the deal, but Ford’s refusal to grant Ferrari complete control over its motorsport activities irks Enzo Ferrari, who instead uses the opportunity to attract investment from Fiat’s Gianni Agnelli.

Ferrari’s refusal and accompanying verbal barbs prompt Ford into action, and Iacocca seeks out Shelby to help build race cars that could help Detroit trounce Maranello’s finest at Le Mans. Shelby, in reply, tells them they need something money can’t buy — a driver who knows the machine like the back of his hand. Miles is the man who can help them build a great race car and win with it, but his presence is opposed by Leo Beebe, director of Ford Special Vehicles. To Beebe, Miles is too brash; not a ‘Ford man’. To get to where they want to be, Shelby and Miles must battle; and battle they do, proving their worth against all odds to get to the premise of the movie — the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. The rest — for the sake of not divulging too much — is history.

What Ford v Ferrari does brilliantly is put the viewer in the co-driver’s seat. When Shelby holds up the placard with ‘7000+ Go Like Hell!’ scrawled on it, Miles changes gear and you feel that gear shift. You feel that rousing V8 soundtrack in your chest, and the way the movie presents wheel-to-wheel racing will have even the non-petrolhead sorts hooked.

And that’s the thing about Ford v Ferrari — you don’t have to be a car nut to enjoy it. Yes, the sight of several Ford GT40s, Ferrari 330 P3s, Shelby Cobras and Porsche 906 Carreras will elicit plenty of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from enthusiasts, but the crisp storytelling of director James Mangold will engage viewers — regardless of whether they can tell their Bentleys apart from their Rolls-Royces.

Ford v Ferrari also explores the bond Shelby and Miles shared. They were not only colleagues but also buds who understood each other’s strengths and weaknesses like few could. Josh Lucas as Beebe excels at his role of being that obnoxious corporate figure, and Miles’ wife Mollie (Caitriona Balfe) and son Peter (Noah Jupe) play a key role in highlighting just what race car drivers put on the line when they go about their day job.

Some may say Ford v Ferrari is not entirely factual, and it isn’t. With this movie, Mangold has taken the creative liberty to dramatise and explore the human angle of a bitter-sweet story that would otherwise be restricted to what happened in Le Mans. Ford v Ferrari will take you up to “that point at 7,000rpm” it talks about on more than one occasion; and for purely that reason, it is a must-watch.

My son, husband and I just watched this and really enjoyed it! Themes are friendship, perseverance, family and ingenuity. I felt the cussing was pretty minimal. The only thing I had to explain to my son was the poor behavior of the Ford guy who tried to undermine the driver.

May 16, 2020

One of the Greatest movies ever made

Incredible movie! It’s a winners movie! Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles both at different times throughout the movie demonstrating a winners mentality. It’s a beautiful story about how two friends teamed up to do what many thought was impossible. The relationship they have with each other is incredible to watch and events throughout the movie show the great faith that they had in each other. It also well represented Carroll shelbys amazing talent and ability in communicating with people and how he was able to turn a what seemed terrible situation into the best situation they could possibly be in by changing peoples perspectives which is a great example of a winners mentality.

What's the Story?

In FORD V FERRARI, race car driver Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) wins the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans race but is forced to retire due to a heart condition. Meanwhile, at the Ford Motor Company, Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal) proposes that the company start making race cars as a way to improve their image with younger drivers. An attempt to partner with Ferrari goes south, so Ford hires Shelby to build their car. Shelby, in turn, hires Ken Miles (Christian Bale), a talented but volatile driver, to help work out the bugs. Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) puts executive Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas) in charge of the racing division, and Beebe immediately sets out to get rid of Miles. But Miles and Shelby have an ace up their sleeve: They actually have the talent to win races and have their sights set on the 1966 Le Mans. Nevertheless, Beebe has one last weaselly plan.

Is It Any Good?

This enjoyable fact-based racing movie runs a little long, but it manages to keep up a good, breezy pace, focusing more on pure entertainment than on trying to be dutifully "important." At the heart of Ford v Ferrari are two fine performances by Damon and Bale, whose characters forge a touching friendship that's based more on small gestures than on big demonstrations. Miles is a show-off, but Bale makes him seem real, with relatable worries and outrages. And Damon clearly enjoys his clever, quick-witted character, who still somehow makes genuine connections. Just as good is playwright Letts as the stern, rocky second Henry Ford; he's reduced to terrified screaming and joyful tears when Shelby takes him for a high-speed ride in his new car.

At the wheel, director James Mangold gives Ford v Ferrari the crisp, confident energy of his best genre films, Logan and 3:10 to Yuma (the latter of which also starred Bale), without letting it drift into the stodgy, awards-bait seriousness of his previous biopic Walk the Line. Ford v Ferrari is so simple and classic that it could have been sent here directly from the early 1960s. Perhaps its most niggling flaw is Lucas' slimy, one-dimensional villain character, who acts out of pure selfishness. But the racing sequences are impeccably timed, with thundering, thrilling sound design that could convert newbies into hard-core racing fans. Still, the movie's best achievement is the sly way it depicts the central friendship, largely unspoken but still surprisingly tender.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

• Families can talk about Ford v Ferrari's violence. How does it compare to what you might see in an action movie? What are the consequences? Do you think some people really watch racing just for the crashes?
• Does the movie glamorize racing? How exciting does it look? How dangerous?
• Are Shelby and Miles role models? They're both champions, but they're also complex people with weaknesses and dark sides. Does this make them bad people?
• Why do you think there's so much advertising associated with racing? Does seeing a brand's logo at the racetrack make you want to seek out a specific product?
• Could Henry Ford II be considered a bully? How does Shelby handle him? What other ways are there of dealing with bullies?

Movie Details

• In theaters: November 15, 2019
• On DVD or streaming: February 11, 2020
• Cast: Christian Bale , Matt Damon , Caitriona Balfe
• Director: James Mangold
• Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
• Genre: Drama
• Topics: Cars and Trucks
• Run time: 152 minutes
• MPAA rating: PG-13
• MPAA explanation: some language and peril
• Last updated: June 20, 2023

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What is the feel good movie like Ford vs Ferrari?

Ford v Ferrari (2019) 20th Century Fox. While Ferrari spotlights the iconic Italian visionary and his racing team, Ford v Ferrari focuses on the Americans and the Ford Motor Company. ... .

Rush (2013) Universal Pictures. The simple fact is that rivalries make sports better. ... .

Gran Turismo (2023) Sony Pictures Releasing..

Was Ford v Ferrari a good movie?

Ford v. Ferrari is an absolute winner, with memorable performances from its cast, and my favorite Mangold picture thus far. For me, it is one of the best of the year, and as far as car movies go, one of the best ever made, and miles away from a disappointment.

Is Ford vs Ferrari hit or flop?

It was a commercial success, grossing $225 million worldwide against an $97 million budget, and received critical acclaim, who lauded the performances (particularly Bale and Damon), Mangold's direction, the editing, the sound design and the racing sequences.

How accurate was the movie Ford vs Ferrari?

Many details in the Ford vs. Ferrari movie are true and give us a glimpse into the rivalry between Ford and Ferrari back then. Details in the movie include Ford's determination to win the 1966 Le Mans after half a decade of Ferrari dominance.